Drawing

Albert Chan, Zhonghao Chen, Jim Cooper, Gavin Hurley, Locust Jones, Tony de Lautour, Zina Swanson, Philip Trusttum, Stacey Turner, Telly Tu'u, Wayne Youle.

When words fail to communicate meaning drawing is often a substitute. It is immediate and universal. We all draw. We explain with a diagram, map out where to go or doodle to fill in time.

The artists in this exhibition range from emerging to established. The title, ‘Drawing’, allows for a broad interpretation in media and purpose. Some drawings are the first materialisation of a subconscious thought or the imaginative visualising of an idea. Some are an abstract response to a visual or other sensory stimulus or others are working ideas for realisation in other media. Jim Cooper’s figurative work on canvas and paper suggests the shapes, surfaces and colours in his ceramic figures. Aspects of Philip Trusttum’s doodle-like drawings can be seen in his large paintings on canvas. The delicacy of Zina Swanson’s watercolour and pencil works is translated into her fragile glass structures. Tony de Lautour’s repertoire of symbols and shapes appear in his drawings and paintings. Gavin Hurley’s cut coloured paper collages have the crisp edge quality of his paintings.

The immediacy of a drawing is seductive. A raw biro mark, delicate pencil line, torn or cut paper edge, smudges of charcoal or wash of colour, these are often the artist’s first response to an idea.

- Helen Calder